Spring-propelled carriage



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. A. MOORE. Spring-Propelled Garriag No. 223,373. Patented Jag' fidsso.

INVENTOR: @Qv/ ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES W n PErERs. vuormuwoempuzn. WASHINGYON. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMEs A. MOORE, or KEWANNA, INDIANA.

SPRING-PROP ELLED CARRIAGE.

SPECIFICATION forming-part of Letters Patent No. 223,373, dated January 6, 1880.

Application filed October 1, 1879.

. To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. MoonE, of'

lowing is a specification.

of Indiana, have invented a new and Improved Spring-Propelled Carriage, of which the fol- Figure 1 is a plan of the device. Fig. 2 is a sectional longitudinal elevation of the same on line at 01;, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional longi' tudinal elevation of the same on line y 3 Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same on line z z of Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional elevation on line '0 2), Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation of the ratchet-levers, pawls, and ratchets.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to that class of mo tors whose motive power is contained in a combination of coiled springs, levers, eccentrics, 85c.

The invention consists, essentially, of a combination of springs, eccentrics, ratchets, levers, and chains so arranged upon a carriage as to be capable of exerting sufficient force after the springs are wound up to efi'ect a long-continued and economical propulsion of the carriage.

1n the drawings, A and A are, respectively, the front and rear sections of the horizontal frame, that are hinged to each other, in order that the sections may independently adjust themselves to the irregularities of the ground.

The front section, A, rests on-the axles B and O ofthe guidin g-wheels B and the drivingwheels ,0, respectively, while the rear section, A, rests on the axle D of the wheels I). Fixed centrally within the section A, and stayed by the braces E, is the frame E, between whose uprights is journaled the axle F, on which is keyed the gear-wheel F, and upon which is secured one end of each of the coiled springs F, while set loosely upon the axle F, and between the springs F, is the large ehainwheel F, to the sides of which, near its periphery, are fastened the outer ends of the springs F.

A shield, b, is set over the springs F and the chain-wheel F, to protect them from the weather. Upon the axle D is keyed the pinion G, that engages in the gear-wheel F, and near the outer end of the said axle D is keyed the ratchet-wheel G, that is held from 'tiirning backward by the pawl and spring 0..

Next in front of the parts above described, and supported in the elevated boxes 01 d, that are set upon the framesection A, is the revolving shaft H, upon which are keyed the pinion H and the eccentrics I H, whose peripheries are encircled bythe grooved straps H H, that are provided with radial arms ff, to the ends of which armsff are attached the ratchet-levers I I, whose other ends encircle the axle or shaft 0 between each pair of ratchets l I, that are set loosely on said shaft H,

and provided with pins h h, and each ratchetlever I is provided on each side with spring and pawl g, for operating the said ratchets I l.

\Vhen the device is in operation, one ratchet, I, of each pair is revolved in one direct-ion by the engagement of a pawl, g, while the other is revolved in the opposite direction by the engagement of the opposite pawl g in the teeth of the said ratchet I; so it is evident that by means of the pawls g the driving-wheel O can be turned backward or forward, and the motion of the carriage be thereby reversed, according to which set of the ratchets I is clutched to the said shaft 0.

K K are the double-faced clutches, made to slide over splines on the shaft G, and provided with holes that receive the pins h h of the ratchets I, and these clutches K K are thrown into gear with either setof ratchets I by the rods It k, that are moved by the lever K, which is held in position in notcheisin the plate 1.

Secured upon a transverse timber of the frame A, and braced by the rods m m, are two rearward-projecting supports L L, that afford bearings for the shaft 12, on which are secured the gear-wheel L and small chain-wheel L.

M is the brake-lever, M the orake-leverholding plate, and 0 the brake-rods, Whose shoes 12 are to operate against the edges of the wheels G.

The device for guiding the carriage, or determinin g the direction in which it shall move,

IOO

said finger 19 with the axle B, and the lever N, provided with spring and pawl r, and the auxiliary lever and rod 8 and guide 2?.

Should it bedesired, when the device or carriage is in motion forward, to change its direction, the operator may, by taking hold of the handles of the levers N and s and moving them backward, disengage the pawl r from the upper row of rack-teeth, and at the same time lift the said rack N, so that its lower row of teeth will become engaged with the pinion N, so that the said pinion N, in turning, will drawback the rack N, and by this means swing the front axle, B, and its attached wheels B to the left hand. As soon as the rack N has been moved sufficiently the levers N and 's are moved forward again to disengage'the said rack N from the pinion N, and to hold it (the rack N) up securely in place. To turn the device to the right the rack N is pressed down so that its central row of teeth are engaged by the pinionN.

To operate this device a key is applied to the projecting end of the axle D to turn it, and operates, thro'ugh the pinion Gr, gear-wheel 1*", and chain-wheel F, to wind up the springs Then the key is removed and the said springs F uncoil, and in doing so impart motion, through the chaiirwheel F, chain F, small chain-wheel L, gear-wheel L, pinion H, eccentrics H", ratchet-levers I,ratchets I, and

axle O, in the order herein named, to the driving-Wheels G, to revolve the said drivingwheels 0 and move the whole device.

This device may be applied to the propulsiondof paddle-wheels for steamboats, if desire Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination of the axle D, pinion G, gear-wheel F, springs F, chain-wheel F, chain F, chain-wheel L gear-wheel L, pinion H, eccentricsH, ratchet-levers I, ratchets l, axles O, and driving-wheel G, constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination of the axle D, wheels D, ratchet G, pawl and spring a, pinion G, gearwheel F, frame E, springs F, chain-wheel F, and chain-F with the hinged frame-section A, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the 'chain-wheel L,

gear-wheel L, pinion H, eccentrics-H-,ratch- JAMES A. MOORE.

Witnesses:

PETER PERRY DUKES, ISAAC EDWIN HENDRIGKSON. 

